Locomotive boiler



July 21, 1942. H. SMITH ET AL LOGOMOT IVE BOILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1939 INVENTORS. L E w/s H. 5M1 TH [ARK/N E. WILLIAMSON ATTORNEYi;

y 1. 1942- L. H. SMITH E 2,290,500

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Nov. 13, 1939 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. L 5 Wm hf SM/TH BY LARK/N A. \A/lLL/AMSON A TTORNE y 1942- L. H. SMITH ETAL 2,290,500

LOCOMOTIQVE BOILER Filed Nov. 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. L EW/S H SM/TH By LARK/NE. WILLIAMSON ATTORNEY5.7,

Patented July 21, 1942 STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Lewis H. Smith, Cleveland, Ohio, and Larkin R. Williamson, Brooklyn; N. Y., assign'o'rsto H. H. Pinney, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 304,158

6 Claims. (01. 12268) cludes a firebox bounded by side sheets, back sheets, throat sheets, a crown sheet and a flue sheet at the forward end of the firebox. A second flue sheet remote from the firebox cooperates with the first fiue sheet to support the fiues making up the fire tube portion of the boiler.

Several siphons or water steaming and circulating pockets are normally positioned vertically and longitudinally within the upper part of the firebox and are attached to the crown sheet and by reason of slots therein are in open communication with a steam space above the crown sheet. The siphon construction just outlined is supplied with water from both front and rear ends, and by reason of the intense heat of combustion in the firebox water in the siphons is quickly evaporated into steam, passing upwardly through the layer of water covering the crown sheet and entering into the steam space above such water level, setting up end to end circulation.

The general object of our invention has been to increase the end to end boiler circulation in connection with thermic siphons of the type above described in a manner which will cause them to be constantly supplied with water for continuous and rapid conversion into steam in order that the locomotive shall be what is known as a quick steamer. An additional object has been to provide a boiler of increased efiiciency over those heretofore employed. Still another object has been to provide a firebox and siphon construction in which the expansion characteristics, due to the wide range in heat content around the firebox, are rendered harmless due to the end to end circulation of the water and will not result in warping or actual fracture of portions of the walls. A further object has been to provide a construction as above indicated which is readily adaptable for use in existing boiler constructions, both in locomotive and in stationary installations which are adapted to the features above enumerated. A further object of this invention hasbeen to create a positive end to end circulation by direct connection from the front end of the boiler to the siphon and thus create a more even heat distribution throughout the boiler.

We have found that an increased boiler efficiency is obtained when the siphons are supplied from a source within the boiler system atwhich the thermal content of the water is as low as possible, thus establishing a more complete and rapid circulation. It is an inherent characteristic of boilers of this class that the water surrounding the lower fire tubes in a region ad- 3 lament the front flue sheet remote from the firebox will be the coldest. Thus we supply the siphons with water taken directly from this region. As a part of the invention we conduct the water to the siphons in a direction such that it passes successively through masses of water with constantly increasing heat content. The water is passed into and through the pipes with a swirling action and it is thus in a turbulent condition. This water will be partially heated by conduction through the pipes fromv the surrounding water which in turn has been heated from the fire tubes. Hence the water will have been heated before it reaches the siphons, thus facilitating its evaporation into steam.

The effective steam liberating surface at the water line of the boiler is increased by our invention. This is because of the complete end to end circulation by which hot water from the crown sheet region circulates along substantially the entire steam liberating surface to the front of the boiler. Thus, as the water above the fiues is hotter with our invention, than with those heretofore known, it requires less heat from the fire tubes to complete the evaporation of part of the'water into steam. This not only materially increasesthe effective steam liberating surface, but more effectively employs the heat of the combustion gases passing through the fire tubes, with a consequent increase in the boiler efiiciency.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then consists of the means and steps hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used;

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a phantom view of a locomotive employing our invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central transverse section through a firebox construction employed with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through Fig. 2 as indicated by the lines 3-3 thereon;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central transverse section through a part of the firebox and through the fire tubes;

Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the pipes used to supply the siphons;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of a modified form of pipe construction shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a detail plan of an expansion loop in the siphon supply pipes.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a locomotive of the ordinary type in which we provide a fire tube boiler II) and a firebox I l to which fuel may be supplied through door l2 openin into the locomotive cab as indicated.

The firebox construction comprises the usual mud ring I5 surrounding the grates, which are not shown but which are mounted in the open space H. The firebox is mounted at the rear by a pair of back sheets I8 and I9, in which is formed a fire opening 20 closed by a suitable door, not shown. The back sheets merge with the side sheet construction on each side of the box comprising an inner sheet 22 and an outer sheet 23. The side sheets in turn merge with a pair of spaced throat sheets 24 and 25. All of the aforesaid sheet constructions form a generally vertically extending enclosing wall for the firebox which is filled-with water to a level extending above the crown in order to serve the dual purpose of preventing destruction of the firebox and providing a greater heated area for the water which is to be evaporated into steam.

A flue sheet 21 extends across the forward end of the firebox, joining the inner side sheets and the inner throat sheets. A second flue sheet or forward sheet 28 is mounted adjacent the front of the locomotive cab and cooperates with the back flue sheet to support a series of flues 30 forming the fire tube portion of the boiler. The flue sheets are bounded by side walls to provide a water reservoir from which the siphons here after described are supplied. The gases result- ,7

ing from combustion in the firebox pass therethrough and enter the fire tubes, passing forwardly through them and emerging on the front side of the forward flue sheet, from which they are discharged to atmosphere through the locomotive stack. The entire unit is designed in a well known manner to provide the necessary circulation for these gases. A crown sheet 35 merges with the back and side sheet walls and the rear flue sheet to form with a curved top 31 a water and steam space above the firebox. This space, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is in direct communication with the side sheet and back sheet spaces as well as with the water reservoir head of the rear flue sheet.

The entire water system is normally maintained full of water to a height indicated by the water level WL, which is also known as the steam disengagement surface.

The crown sheet of the boiler is slightly inclined, the high point being at the front end of the firebox. This is typical of locomotive parts, having to do with keeping all parts of the crown sheet easily covered with water, notwithstanding the surging and dipping movements of the locomotive. Stay bolts or rods 39 interconnect the curved top and the crown sheet to reinforce the same against blowing out as a result of the high pressures generated within the chamber thereby bounded. Similarly, shorter stay bolts 39*- are provided to likewise protect the side sheet, back sheet and throat sheet spaces against undue expansion.

Downwardly extending siphons 40, which are preferably of generally triangular shape, are positioned vertically and longitudinally within the upper part of the firebox and are attached to the crown sheet at 4 I. Longitudinally extending slots 43 in the crown sheet provide open communication between the siphons and the water space above said sheet. The siphons are integrally stayed as indicated at 45 to provide adequate strength under the pressure maintained in the boiler.

These siphons, preferably three in number, although not so limited, are bounded at their forward ends by vertical transverse walls 48 extending from the bottom corner pocket 49 upwardly to be secured to the crown sheet by welding. At the rear of the siphons the same contact with the upper portion of the inner back sheet l8, as shown in Fig. 2. The side walls 41 of the siphons pass through and are firmly secured, as by welding, to the said inner back sheet, thus making the siphon an integral part of the entire water system.

It will be observed that the siphon is entirely supported by the upper portion of the firebox, thus eliminating any operating faults which might develop due to the expansion and consequent separation of the upper and lower portions of the firebox, as for instance the throat and crown sheets.

Water for evaporation is supplied to the siphons at the bottom corner pockets 49 from pipes leading to the front end of the boiler and receiving water from adjacent the front flue sheet. This construction is best shown in Fig. 5. In this broken section an intake pipe or flue 50 is shown as supported in collars 5| and 52 in alignment andwelded to the flue sheets 21 and 23 respectively. The pipe is capped at 54 by a taper threaded plug which may be removed forwardly of the front flue sheet for repairs and cleaning. The pipe 50 communicates with a second pipe 55 which is welded at 51 to the vertical transverse wall 48 of a respective siphon. The pipe is in communication with the interior of the siphon and is likewise'in communication with Y the pipe 59 being slidably received for this purpose in the collar 5|. The collar interior and the exterior of the pipe 55 are ground to make a tight sliding fit at this point.

Each pipe 55 is formed with a v-shaped bend or loop as shown at 58 in Fig. 7 to provide for expansion or other movement between the siphons and the back flue sheet. The loops are all mounted so that every point thereof lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal vertical front to back plane of the boiler.

As an alternative construction, the pipes 55 may be bent as shown in Fig. 2 to allow for relative movement between the back of the sheet and a respective siphon to the heating of the parts.

Also a series of annular grooves may be cut in the pipe as shown at 60 in Fig. 6 and expansible sealing rings, made of steel, mounted in the grooves to provide a more positive seal. The joint formed in either of the ways just described between the pipe 55 and the pipe 50 is thus longiw tudinally expansible to compensate for the change in size of the parts of the firebox as the temperature therein varies.

Water is drawn into the pipe 50 from the front end of the boiler adjacent the flue sheet 23 through a series of drilled holes 62 which, as shown in Fig. 5, lie along a helical line extending around the periphery of the pipe. We have found that by making the total area of opening of the intake holes 62 equal to approximately twice the cross-sectional area of the tube a nozzle action is secured as the water is drawn through the siphons. This action, together with a swirling action, effected by th helical position of the holes 62, results in the Water passing through the tubes at a high speed, and in a turbulent condition. The speed of flow results in an improved circulation throughout the entire system and the turbulence obtained results in an efficient transfer of heat from the water adjacent the fiue sheet 21 through the pipe Walls to the water passing to the siphons.

The circulating system described functions to draw water from the coldest portion of the entire system, namely, that adjacent the lower corner of the forward flue sheet. From here the water is drawn at a rapid rate and in a turbulent condition through the rest of the water surrounding the fire tubes and will pick up by direct heat and transfer part of the thermal content of the water between the region of the holes 62 and the collar in the rear flue sheet. From here the water passes directly through a portion of the firebox in the pipe 55 and further acquires an initial heating before it enters the siphon, to which a respective pipe 55 feeds. Thus, at the time the Water enters the siphon its thermal content has been increased from the lowest in the entire system to a state ready for quick evaporation into steam in the siphons.

The siphons are likewise supplied from the back sheet connection, as shown in the left-hand side of Fig. 2. The water is supplied at this end of the siphon in a heated condition as a result of heat conduction from the firebox through the side sheets 22 and the back sheet l8. This desirable circulation is of course obtained by the evaporation and the differenc in heat content of the different portions of the water system.

Water thus enters a siphon 40 from two generally longitudinal directions. These two streams meet and, due to their flow together with the very rapid evaporation of the constituent water into stream, provide an up movement of the Water and steam through the crown sheet and into the steam space thereabove. has not been evaporated may flow back to the fire tube region for additional heating. As the water thus circulates along the steam liberating surface toward the front flue sheet it is additionally heated by heat transferred from th fire tubes of the heat content in the combustion gases flowing therethrough. Part of the water thus additionally heated will be sufficiently raised in heat units to be liberated from the steam surface as steam. Th heating effect of the fire tubes will not be sufiicient to evaporate all the water adjacent thereto and this water which has not been evaporated will finally find its way to the front flue sheet region. Because of the tendency of water with varying heat contents to stratify this unevaporated water will gradually settle to the bottom of the boiler. From here it will be again fed to the siphons through the pipes 50.

Water which It will be apparent from the foregoing description that we have provided a novel circulating system and apparatus for use therefor in connection with boiler installations. It will also be apparent that the entire siphon construction is hung from the upper part of the firebox and that the water connections at the base of the siphon are connected by expansible joints into the flue sheet construction without any connection to the throat sheet portion of the firebox. Thus the great expansion which takes place in the firebox as the same becomes heated is prevented from doing any damage to the parts of the system.

Other forms may be employed embodying the features of our invention instead of the one herein explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by our preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

We therefore distinctly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A locomotive boiler having a front flue sheet and a firebox at the rear end thereof provided with a crown sheet and a flue sheet, in combination with a longitudinally disposed fiat substantially triangular water-steaming and circulating element secured to and opening through the crown sheet and having the forward edge thereof spaced from and adjacent the firebox flue sheet, each of said flue sheets having a sleeve'secure'd thereto and projecting therethrough, a conduit communicating with said element and terminating in and'slidably engaged by the firebox flue sheet sleeve, another conduit, one end of which terminates in and is slidably engaged by said firebox flue sheet sleeve and the other end of which terminates in and is slidably engaged by the front flue sheet sleeve, said last-named conduit having an intake opening therein, and means for closing the forward end of the front flue sheet sleeve.

2. A locomotive boiler having a front flue sheet and a firebox at the rear thereof provided with a crown sheet and a flue sheet, a water-steaming and circulating element in said firebox opening through said crown sheet, each of said flue sheets having a sleeve projecting therethrough, a conduit the ends of which terminate in and are slidably engaged by said sleeves, said conduit having an intake opening, means for removably sealing the front flue sheet sleeve and a conduit interconnecting the firebox flue sheet sleeve and said element.

3. A locomotive boiler having at the rear end thereof a firebox provided with side sheets, in combination with a water-circulating and steaming element in said firebox and opening through one of the sheets thereof, a conduit in communication with said element and extending forwardly into the boiler, that portion of said conduit which is within the boiler being provided with a series of intake openings arranged on a helical line extending around the periphery of the conduit.

4. A locomotive boiler having a front flue sheet and a firebox at the rear thereof provided with a crown sheet and a flue sheet in combination with a water steaming and circulating element in said firebox opening through said crown sheet and spaced from the firebox flue sheet, a pair of sleeves one opening through each of said flue sheets, a conduit communicating between said element and the firebox flue sheet sleeve and slidably engaging the latter, another conduit havin an intake opening communicating between and slidably engaging said sleeves and having said intake opening between the sleeves, and means for closing the forward end of the front flue sheet sleeve.

5. A locomotive boiler having a front flue sheet and a firebox at the rear thereof provided with a flue sheet, a water steaming and circulating element in said firebox and opening through one of the walls thereof, each of said flue sheets having a sleeve openin therethrough, a conduit the ends of which terminate in said sleeves, said conduit having an intake opening, means for removably sealing the front flue sheet sleeve, and a conduit interconnecting the firebox flue sheet sleeve and said element.

6. A locomotive boiler having at the rear there of a firebox provided with a crown sheet, a flue sheet and a throat sheet in combination with a longitudinally disposed flat substantially triangular water heating and circulating element secured to and opening through said crown sheet, the forward portion of said element being spaced from said firebox flue sheet and the lower portion of said element terminating above said throat sheet, a conduit disposed above said throat sheet and projecting through said flue sheet for establishing communication between said element and the forward portion of said boiler, that portion of said conduit which is disposed in said firebox between said element and said flue sheet being bent for absorbing expansion and contraction.

LEWIS H. SMITH.

LARKIN R. WILLIAMSON. 

